Thanks- Mike, actually Jon/ Hang10 was the one who first suggested (thought of?) the coasters- they're fun to make, and I'm happy to have figured out a better/ more appropriate glaze. Mike, I will try one with an unglazed circle for cups, just for you...

Wendy, I'm figuring out the design now. My initial plan was to use a woodgrain stamp to press into the slab (before forming it into a mug), but now I think I'll carve the grain into it. My plan is to keep it looking log-like, with "Latte Log" carved into the side. It'll have a few other images etched in as well. The business name will be on the bottom of the mug. I'll probably work on two or three at the same time, to see which one I like the best. If only you were closer, I'd pay you with hot chocolate to help me carve these properly....

Update on the (non-tiki) Coffee Biz Tiki Mug. First I drew out the design with a pencil (it's the mug for the first person to finish the "Latte Log"). Using an eraser pushed into the clay, so just drew on top of the initial drawing. The pencil marks will burn away when it's bisque fired.

Then I carved into it with one tool that Wendy once recommended...

And used another tool recommended by Wendy for carving woodgrain (to make it look "log-like"):

Since the clay was not as dry as I liked, I had to go ahead and recarve some of the lines for a cleaner look.

Wendy, since it's slab built I pressed my stamp into the bottom before I attached it to the form. I'll take a photo of it soon, just waiting for it to dry out a bit more to carve a few more details, and then get it bisque fired. I plan on making one more version w/ a slightly different design....

As the clay dries it becomes easier to sand down certain areas. I trimmed the areas between the letters to "raise" the letters. I also added texture to the bamboo frame, as well as adding some wood grain behind and around the "Latte Log" letters:

And, for Wendy, here's a look at the bottom of the mug:

Now it waits to get bisque fired- which may take a while (after looking at the firing schedule at the clay studio). Dang it. I'll have to start working on the next Log mug now.

Started working on another handbuilt mug for the "Latte Lug" challenge winner. I had made a slab w/ a slab roller and gotten the form to firm up a bit. I free hand drew then cut out letters out of a thrown slab. Attaching letters one at a time....

until more were scored and slipped onto the mug:

I then drew in and carved a big knot in the side:

then added a little tapa strip:

All of these pieces need to firm up some more, then I will trim more, as well as add wood grain texture to the rest of the mug.

I also continued working on another Moai mug. I saw MadDog Mike cut away a block of clay from his last Art Swap piece, and really wanted to try the process. I cut a chunk of clay out of a bag, removed clay in wet chunks. Wasn't working so well, so I let it firm up a little bit, then attacked it more today. It's the first time I've worked a piece of clay like a wood carver, so it's definitely a learning process- not quite as "Moai" as I had hoped. Once it's trimmed up I'll cut it in half to remove the interior, then re-attach it. So far:

I also got a thrown vessel (that was carved) back after glaze firing. The "Rum" letters are carved very deep into the cup (thick walls), which made the glaze really pop. It's pretty small, and an almost-coconut shape.